Functional Anatomy of the Lumbar Spine

Question 1

What are the regions of the spine?

Answer 1

Cervical,

thoracic,

lumbar,

sacral,

coccygeal

Question 2

How many vertebrae are in each region of the spine?

Answer 2

7, 12, 5, 5, 4

Question 3

Which regions of the spine are mobile vs relatively immobile?

Answer 3

M = cervical and lumbar.

RI = thoracic

Question 4

Which parts of the spine are fused?

Answer 4

Sacrum = 5 fused vertebrae.

Coccyx = 4 fused vertebrae

Question 5

What are the functions of the vertebral column?

Answer 5

Central pillar,

supports skull/pelvis/upper limbs/thoracic cage,

protects spinal cord and cauda equina,

movement,

haemopoiesis,

allows spinal nerves to leave/join at specific points

Question 6

How do the vertebral bodies change inferiorly?

Answer 6

Increase in size as compression forces increase

Question 7

What movements do the lumbar spine enable?

Answer 7

Flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation

Question 8

What are the characteristic features of the lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 8

kidneys shaped vertebral body, vertebral arch posteriorly

Question 9

What 7 processes are given off the a typical lumbar vertebra?

Answer 9

x1 spinous process,

x2 transverse process,

x2 superior articular process,

x2 inferior articular process

Question 10

What makes up the vertebral arch?

Answer 10

Lamina (connects transverse process to spinous process) + pedicle (connects transverse process to body)

Question 11

What are the characteristic features of the sacrum?

Answer 11

5 fused, widened, concave anteriorly to transmit weight of the body through the pelvis to legs

Question 12

What are the characteristic features of the coccyx?

Answer 12

4 fused, easily fractured during falls, remnant of tail

Question 13

What joint is found between the superior and inferior articular processes?

Answer 13

Synovial (facet) joint – prevents anterior displacement

Question 14

What space to the spinal nerve emerge through?

Answer 14

Intervertebral foramina

Question 15

What structures of the vertebrae maintain stability of the vertebral column?

Answer 15

Anterior longitudinal ligament = prevents hyperextension.

Posterior longitudinal ligament = prevents hyperflexion.

Question 16

What ligaments are present in the lumbar spine?

Answer 16

Supraspinous ligament (tube-like),

interspinous ligament (fibrous, between each spinous process),

ligamentum flavum (elastic, anterior to interspinous),

anterior longitudinal,

posterior longitudinal

Question 17

What is an intervertebral disc?

Answer 17

Between each vertebrae, 25% vertebral column, wedge shaped, 2 regions: nucleus pulposus (central), annulus fibrosus (peripheral)

Question 18

What is the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 18

Peripheral intervertebral disk, type 1 collagen and fibrocartilage, major shock absorber

Question 19

What is the nucleus pulposus?

Answer 19

Central intervertebral disk, type 2 collagen, remnant of notochord, high osmotic pressure

Question 20

How can the normal shape of the spine be described?

Answer 20

Lordosis = concave posteriorly (cervical, lumbar).

Kyphosis = concave anteriorly (thoracic, sacral, coccyx)

Question 21

What is primary curvature?

Answer 21

C shaped spine as a foetus – retained throughout life in thoracic, sacral, coccyx

Question 22

How does cervical lordosis develop?

Answer 22

When a young child begins to lift its head

Question 23

When does senile kyphosis develop?

Answer 23

In old age when secondary curvature starts to disappear – continuous primary curvature is re-established

Question 24

When does physiological curvature of the spine change?

Answer 24

During pregnancy = exaggeration of lumbar lordosis